In qualifying for the President’s Circle Award, Doña Ana County has met Keep America Beautiful’s standards of merit by conducting an annual Community Appearance Index (a tool used to visually assess overall appearance of communities through indicators such as litter, illegal signs, graffiti, abandoned or junk vehicles, and outside storage), calculating the affiliate’s cost/benefit ratio (the ability to leverage community resources by determining the dollar value returned to the community for every dollar invested by government), and administering initiatives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify communities in Doña Ana County.

“One of Keep America Beautiful’s most effective grassroots community resources is our local affiliates, which have an impact on millions of Americans each year,” said Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Helen Lowman. “Our affiliates provide real solutions that help create communities that are socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound. They enrich the communities they serve and help create opportunities for Americans to do beautiful things.”

“It’s an honor to receive such high recognition from Keep American Beautiful,” said Vicki Lusk, Manager of Doña Ana County Animal Control & Codes. “We work throughout the year to engage the community through outreach and education, in order to ensure Doña Ana County is a beautiful and clean place to live, play and work. We’re thankful for the work Keep America does throughout the nation, and we’re looking forward to another great year of community involvement and cleaning up in Doña Ana County.”

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Reporters seeking more information or interviews may call county Public Information Director Jess Williams at (575) 525-5801.